Serving device



E. U. RICE SERVING DEVICE May 10, 1932.

Filed Maron 24', 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TTR/VE Y May 1.0, 1932. E. U. RICE SERVING DEVICE Filed March 24, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATT@ PNEY Patented May 1.0, 12932l i UNITI-:D OFFICE L :EDGAR u. alor., orl.WnszrrranD,4 NEW-JERSEY, assiomi; To WESTERN ELECTRIC oom- PANY, moonroaarnnor NEW-Yoan, N. Y., A oonronarroit or NEW Your:

i sriru'firsnevica l application fuednarch 24, 1930. sealan. 38,2671

Thisinventionrelates to serving` devices and more particularly to devices' -for Serving' a plurality of strands upon 'a-single'objeet. 1

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient servingdevice' Wherea cable to be spirally wound with metaltape is passed axially through a rotatable serv-V V in the supplies for a strand may be replenished without interfering kwith anyremain- 1110' strand. f M n apreferred embodimentof the device,

ing head consisting of a circular plate, which is provided lwith two pads of tape,`lthe one annularvand another al substantially 'solid 153circular pad.` These padsv are mounted on opposite sides of the rotating-plate and'ithe tapes are served from them simultanmusly` r to a common point Where they are Wrapped gthe 'tape fronithe annular pad being superposed upon that served from' the circular f'wifhoat in any Way anatema'1gf with the leading from the other pad, i

from the following detailed "description,

Y. read in connection-with the accompanying ff? drawings forming a part thereof, in which clarit Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a serving ap paratus embodying features of the 1n'vention, the magazines having' been omitted for lbteferring to the drawings in which simi" lar'parts areindicatedby. identical refer-y ence numerals, a serving apparatus, 'generell ly designated by the-numeral'. 10 (Fig. 1),-

is supported upon a pair of parallel foundation bars 11-e11 by a platform 12.v4 The platform is provided` at each end with brackrsuitable bolts around the cable wit-han overl'appinglay,:

ets 14.@14to ivhich is secured, bymeans of l 15-15,a magazine 16 (Fig. "2)." The magazineconsistsof a substantially .circular plate having a central axially disposed aperture I19 which is designed to accommodate an object, core or cable 20 during itszpassagethrough the serving appassi ratus- 10 in a manner tobe described here# after.y The plate 16 is provided on an inner side thereof with an annular flange 21 of suficient Width to--aocommodatev any desired number of annular. tapepads 22, 22, which pair ofbrackets 2&23 (Fig. 2) is secured,

dni."

may', form areserve supply of material to be .servedupon the cable 20. f I

l O11 the opposite side of the platfor :i 12,111-` the br'aokets/ being provided With `suitable bolts 24-f2elfornthe purpose 01": securing,`

thereto a second inagfgazine26.;l The magazine is provided with a 'central 'axially disposed "aperture 27 about vWhich'is formedfa projecting tube 28Which furnishes a support for any desired `number of circular tape pads 30, 30 sufficient to form a reserve supply for the apparatus. A circular drum or guard 32 is seta e l curely mounted upon the'platform 12 by suit-y he invention will be better understoodk able flanges 34 and is providedwith. oppo site-.ly disposed and radially projecting annud larilang'es4 35+-35.v Atopposite extremities of the supporting-.flanges 34, the annular f'flanges supportspaced -shafts 37-37 (Fig. v2). The Shafts are suitablyjournalled in supA orting brackets 38,138 and each is formed Wit a roller 39.l At the top of the guard y32 (Fig. 1) at spaced "points correspondingto the positions of the rollers 39, 39, are mounted oppositely disposed rollers42, 42 which are Vfornied'upon shafts 43, 43 suitably journalled in the annulariianges H35. A' lserving head 4d* is rotatably mounted Within the guard 32 and consists of a circular plate 46 having peripherally disposed teeth 47 which Y are engagedby a drivechain 48, and an annular bearing flange l50 which bears upon the Arollers 39,39. The head' is rotatably securedn thereuponl and between the'upper'rollers 42. 42;so as to befreely rotatable about a lined axis. tral aperture 51 with which the plate 46' is provided and the plate is there provided with The fixed axis iscoincidentwith a ceniop aperture an axially extending tubular portion 52 for the purpose of accommodating the cable 20 in its passage through the plate. In the rear of the machine a bearing support 54 (Fig. 1) is provided, upon which is mounted a drive sprocket 55 keyed to a drive shaft 56 which is rotatably driven from any suitable source* of power (not shown). It will be understood that the chain 48 is driven by the sprocket 55 to rotate the plate 46, passing over an idler sprocket 58 mounted upon a shaft 59 in the bearing support and which may be adjusted by any suitable means (not shown) to control the tension in the chain 48.., A spacing disc 60 (Fig. 2) is mounted upon the tubular portion 52 of the circular plate and is provided with a projecting sleeve 62 on which is formed a retaining rim 63 by means of which a circular pad holder 64 is held in place upon the sleeve. At opposite points spaced from the:

central aperture `51, threaded set screws 65 and 66 are provided which extend through suitable apertures in the spacing disc, the set screw 65 engaging a threaded aperture 67 in the1 spacing disc 60 andthe set screw 66 engaging the surface of the disc.

An angle bracket 68 (Fig. 4)v is mounted upon viewed in Fig. 2 andLis secured theretozby suitable bolts l69-69. Through arrenlarged head 71 of the bracket, an elongated bolt or shank member 72 extends, upon the extremity of' which isadjustably secured a 'clamp 74 which carries a guide roller 75. Adjacent the guide roller, the plate 46 is provided with a suitable slot or aperture 76 through which passes a strand or tape 78 which is'y drawn from the pad holder 64 and over the-guide roller. A plain bracket 79 (Fig. 2) is adjustably mounted upon the jopposite side of the disc 60 by suitable bolts 80-80 and a head'portion 82 thereof is provided with an elongated bolt or shank member 84. Upon an extremity of the bolt 84 a clamp 86 is adjustably secured,`which supports -in a position proper to carry the tape 78 from the guide roller to the cable 20 at any desired point of application, a guide roller 87 The plain bracket 7 9-extends through a suitable 87 is positioned upon an opposite side of the plate 46 from the guide roller 75. A portion 90 :of the circular pad holder 64 constitutes a drum which is engageable by a band or other suitable type of brake 91 in order to control the tension in the tape as it is being wound about the cable by pressure to vary the relative rates of rotation between the pad holder 64 and the .plate 46.V The plate-46 is provided upon the right-hand surface, as viewed in Fig. 2, with an annular shelf 94 which is'concentric with the axial aperture 51 and the bearingk flanges 50. The shelf is provided with an upt'lurnededge or rim 95 which rotatably secures upon the shelf an the left-hand surface of the disc 6.0 ask 88 in the plate Zlr6-whereby the roller annular pad holder 96. A bracket 98 (Fig. 3) is mounted upon the right-hand surface of the plate 46 by suitable bolts 99 and a head portion 100 thereof is provided with an elongated arm or bolt member 103. A clamp 104 70 is mountedupon an extremity of the armand rotatably supports a guide roller' 106 by means of which tape or other suitable material 107 for serving is removed from the annular pad holder. A bracket 108 (Fig. 2) is adjustably mounted upon the lright-hand surface of the plate 46 by suitable bolts 110-110 and a head portion 111 thereof is kprovided with an adjustably secured elongated bolt or arm member 114. Upon an 80 extremity of the arm is adjustably mounted a clamp by` means of which a guide roller -116 maybe suitably positionedto receive the Vtape 107 from the guide roller106 and direct it at'any desired angle of applicationv to 85 the cable 20. The annular, pad holder 96 is 1 provided with a drum portion 118 which is engaged by a band or other suitable type of brake 119 forthe purposeof controlling'the tension in the tape 107 as it is wrapped about 490 the` cable 20. Suitablyvsecured within thetubular portion 52 of the plate46 and pro- -jecting to the right thereof as shown in Fig. 2 is a guide tube 120 which is provided with,

straight edged slots 122 and 123 respective- 95- ly, for the purpose ofl straightening the tapes 78 and 107, `:immediately*prior to their positioning upon the cable 20 and to effect theV removal of any tendencies such as creasing, Y A

curling or twisting, etc. such as might inter- *100 fere with its true disposition with reference to the cable20. Q

Thefhandling and serving of the cable 2O is considerably facilitated by use ofthe apparatus described above. In passing through 105' the serving head, the cable moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 through lthe central aperture 27 and tube 28 of the magazine 26, the tubular portion 52 of the servinghead, andthroughthe guide tube 110 wherein the tapes 78 and 107 are wrapped therearound; and the wrapped cable then passes 'outwardly from the head through the aperture 19 of the magazine 16.

The circular and annular pad holders and V115'- the serving head, including the guide tube 120, are concentrically disposed and are rotatably mounted about the cable 20` by the bearing support rollers 39, 89 and 42, 42.

Since the supplies and supply holders are con- 120 centric with each other, with the servin g head and with the cable being served, they may be rotated about their axes at any desired speed without fear of damage due to centrifugal forces. This is of great importance in prac-k l tice, since the tape-is often of metal and the' lsupply pads may range from 300 to 600 lbs.

each iny weight. v The circular member or pad holder 64;,is at all times loaded Vwithone of the 'circular Langsam,

. passes through the slotted portion 122 of the guide tube 120. Due to the fact that in traveling from the guide pulley to the pulley 87, the tape 78 passes through the plate 46 by means of the aperture 76 therein, it is the rst tape to engage the cable 20.

The annular pad holder 96 is at all times loaded with one ot the annular vpads of tape 22, and as the tape 107 is drawnfroin the periphery ot thepad, the pad rotates with the pad holder 96 with respect to the annular supporting shelf 94,1iowever, the rate ot relative rotation is determined by the pressure of the brake 119 upon the drinn 118 to control the tension in the tape. The guide spools 106 and 116 carry the tape from the periphery of the pad across the :tace of the serving head to the center thereof. the spools being adjustable in their respective mountings to insure that the tape passes through the slot 123 ot the tube 120 and engages the cable. It will be understood that rthe slot 123 is farther from the plate 4-6 than is the slot 122. Consequently, the tape 107 engages the Cable subsequent to the engagement therewith of the tape 78 and the lay of the tape 107 is so controlled that it is deposited about the cable 20 in alternate juxtaposition with respect to the prior deposited tape 78, thus insuring that every portion of the cable 20 is covered with tape.

The operation of the machine is continuous if desired, except for such stops as may be necessary for splicing or shifting neu7 pads of tape from either of the magazines terminating usually only when the end of the cable 20 has been reached. Since such a practice usually requires more tape than is conveniently stored upon any of the pads, the magazine supplies are provided immediately adjacent the pad holders, and carry a sutlicient number of pads to insure ample tape for the length of cable being served. Should the quantity of tape upon the circular pad holder 64 become exhausted, a pad 30 from the magazine may be manually moved from the tube 28 onto the pad holder 64 and the end thereof is secured to the end of the tape ot the exhausted pad during its passage from the body of the new pad as it is drawn from the pad holder 64 and guide roller 75 and to the guide roller 87. Since the passage of the tape 78 through the serving head and annular shelf 94 is direct, and since it engages the cable: rst,' the-splicing mayf be accomplished y Without interfering with the tape .107. The

lattertape isfdrawn through theslot 123,l and since that slot-'is :farther removed `from` :the -i surface ofthe serving 'head thairis thevslot 122 the'tape 107 is-'served on top ofr that coml-` ing through the slot 122, 'which' has already 1 engaged thecable:4 Upon exhaustion of theV tapefin the annularpadholdei: 96, the mate-'2` rial 'supply therefore maybe lreplenished by 4 manually! movingl'one 1of the vpads :112- over` to position on the pad holder96, andthe old and the new tapes may be joined in vany suit v able `manner -Without .requiring severance of the taperfroin `the circular -pad holder.

It Willnbeiinderstood that the embodiment ofthe inventionrherein describedv and illus-.a 1

tratedis merely a convenient and useful form thereof,=rand thatthe invention is capable'of j' nianyeother modilications Without. departing l as 'defined from thespiritk and scope: thereof by the appendedclfaims; l

What iswclaimedis L 1 1. Inf a'servingfapparatus,amaterial sup j ply/,iai .pair of members forf'carryiiig thematerialf 'andin'eansf; for" serving the material;

from-one member fand through y'the vsecond@A` member: and frointhe vsecond memberrtozalternatejuxtapositionwith that servedfromfl' i .y v y I. 95 .i 2. In a serving apparatus, a serving head, i

the: iirst member.

an annularfzmember on one-side thereof lfoi' servi-ng material, and amember on: the other .l

the: annular member. ;A

a member on one-side thereoffor serving material aiidhaving an aperture and a member onwthe'- other side thereof-'for serving mate-` rialthroughftheaperture ofthe first member..vv f

4.t-In a servingapparatus, a-serving head,

a plurality ofpadsiof serving material thereon adaptedto serve the material to a common object,=tlie axis of: ther lpads beingL parallel to the axis of the serving head,`and'meansf Wherebyfone ofv thepa'ds may be replaced Without interfering with zthematerial served l from the other pad. 5. .-In -aserving apparatus, a 'rotatable serv# ing head-having; an axial-aperture, a circular pad of serving material mounted on the head at-one siderthereoffand concentrically of the aperture -and ran. annular vpad of serving terial mountedfon the head on the otherside` thereof concentric'ally of the circular-pad.

6. In a'serving apparatus, a rotatable servmilii ingl head, an lannular member 0n oneside thereof -fo'r serving material to a point axialy ly aligned With the :center of rotation of the head, and a circular member on the other side ofthe'head for serving material through the annular 1"member to another i point; axially aligned `With the center of rotation of the head. and .inalternate juxtaposition with respeot't'o the material served' from the annular member.

7. Ina serving apparatus, a rotatable serv-` inghead-having an axialy aperture for aceommodating the object to be served, a circular .pad of servingmaterial on one side ofv the head and an annular pad of serving material onrthe other side thereof and meansV operative upon rotation of the head for serving f the material from the circular pad through the 'annular pad land from the annular pad to alternate juxtaposition with that served from the circular pad.

8. In a serving apparatus, a fixed housing, a rotatable serving head having a peripheral ange, spaced rollers in the housing and engaging the iange for carrying the serving head, a' tubular shaft VextendingV axially through the head for accommodating a relatively moving member to'be served, an annular pad oftape rotatably mountedon one side of the head and concentrically of thetubular shaft for serving one layer of tape to the member,-a circular pad of tape mounted con- 9-5` entrically thereof and rotatably on the other side ofthe head for serving a second layer oftape through the annular pad to the meme ber,.and a brake for varying the relative revolving speeds of one of the pads and the `Terving head to control the tension in the tape.

9. :In a-serving apparatus, a member hav- Y ing an aperture to accommodate an object tobe served, a supplyv for furnishing mate- 'rial to be served upon the object in a plurality of strands, guide means-,operative to Vinsure the application of the vstrands tothe object at one side of the member, means disposed upon the other side of the member for 4mforwarding one of the strands to the guide means, said strand being the first to engage the object, and means mounted Yupon the opposite side of the member from the first means for forwarding another strand to the 4,54" guide means to engage the object in alternate juxtaposition to the rst strand.

10; In a serving apparatus, a rotatabl serving head,a circular pad of serving material coaXially mounted on the head at one Tside thereof, and an annular pad of serving material coaxiallymounted on the-head at the other side thereof. f

11. In a serving apparatus, a rotatable serving head having an axial aperture, a cir- 55. `cular pad of serving material and an annular pad of serving material having an axial aperture, and means for forwarding serving materialfrom the circular pad to a point axially aligned with the aperture of the serv- 'f'ing'head through the aperture of the annular pad. y. Y

Infwitness whereof, Ihereunto subscribe name thisA 14th day of March, A. D. 1930.

ff Y LEDGAR U. RICE. 

